UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USACONSISTORY OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONSPRESS RELEASE

St. Andrew’s Society Holds Meeting: Outreach Projects to Ukraine Top One Million!

St. Andrew’s Society of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA held its General Membership Meeting on Wednesday, October 27, 2010 after the first full day of plenary sessions of the 19th Regular Sobor of the Church that took place at the Church’s spiritual and administrative headquarters in South Bound Brook, NJ. During the meeting, which was held in the Library of the Metropolia Center in South Bound Brook, NJ, reports were given by the officers of the Society, the auditing review was accepted and elections of the officers for the upcoming term was held. His Eminence Archbishop Antony, President of the Consistory of the UOC of the USA and His Grace Bishop Daniel, the Ruling Hierarch of the Western Eparchy of the UOC of the USA participated in the evening session of the meeting, expressing the gratitude of the hierarchs, clergy and the faithful of the Church to the members of St. Andrew Society for their devotion and charitable work in Ukraine.

This relatively small but very active organization of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, since its establishment in 1990, has raised $1,003,000 for their various programs of humanitarian and religious aid to the Faithful Orthodox Christians in Ukraine.

The major efforts supported by St. Andrew’s Society have been: humanitarian (soup kitchens for needy elderly and orphanage support totaling $357,000), theological seminaries and scholarships (including the Rev. Lewytzkyj Fund - $255,000), restoration of St. Michael’s Monastery in Kyiv (Rebuilding of the historic Cathedral destroyed by the communist state under Josef Stalin - $115,000), and various church restorations, publications, or medical projects (totaling $274,000).

Presently, St. Andrew’s Society continues feeding the needy elderly in Ukraine in the Soup Kitchens, provides Seminary Scholarships (the Rev. Lewytskyj Fund) and supports children in orphanages of Ukraine.

During the Sobor proceedings, scholarships were awarded from the Rev. Lewytzkyj Fund to the three students from Ukraine, Subdeacons Vasyl Pasakas, Andriy Matlak and Vasyl Dovgan, who were previous scholarship recipients from the Rev. Lewytzkyj Fund and are now studying at St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary in New Jersey. Throughout the days of the Sobor, membership in the Society grew as delegates learned about the impact of the work of the Society, and choose to lend their voice and financial support to further the reach of these humanitarian programs.

Elected officers for the next term were: Rev. Deacon Dr. Ihor Mahlay – president, Dr. Paul Micevych– vice president, and Vitali Vizir – treasurer. To the Board of Directors, in addition to the president and vice president as ex officio members, elected were Michael Heretz, Oksana Bakum, and Luba Lewytzkyj . The auditing committee includes Nikolaus Andrianiw, and Wlacheslaw Wyshnewsky.

Join St. Andrew’s Society and help us reach those in need in Ukraine. For only $12 per year or $100 for a Lifetime membership, you too can support the outreach. Contributions to the charitable work of the Society may be sent to the treasurer:Mr. Vitali Vizir1023 Yorkshire DriveLos Altos, CA 94024

For further information concerning the outreach programs or membership to the Society, please contact Deacon Ihor Mahlay at 440-582-1051 or imahlay@yahoo.com.